Verbena plant named &#39;RIKAV38602&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Verbena  plant named ‘RIKAV38602’, characterized by its compact, mounding and upright to eventually trailing plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; dark green-colored leaves; freely flowering habit; 
     relatively large burgundy-colored flowers that are held above and beyond the foliar plane; and relative tolerance to Powdery Mildew ( Podosphaera xanthii ).

Botanical designation: Verbena hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘RIKAV38602’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Verbena plant, botanically known as Verbena hybrida, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘RIKAV38602’.

The new Verbena plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan and Bonsall, Calif. The objective of the breeding program is to create new vigorous and freely-branching Verbena plants with numerous flowers and tolerance to Powdery Mildew (Podosphaera xanthii).

The new Verbena plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor on May 20, 2013 in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan of a proprietary seedling selection of Verbena hybrida identified as code number 12V258-05, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary seedling selection of Verbena hybrida identified as code number 08V665-02, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Verbena plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Bonsall, Calif. on Jun. 11, 2014.

Asexual reproduction of the new Verbena plant by vegetative terminal cuttings in a controlled environment in Bonsall, Calif. since Jun. 12, 2014, has shown that the unique features of this new

Verbena plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Verbena have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘RIKAV38602’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘RIKAV38602’ as a new and distinct Verbena plant:

-   -   1. Compact, mounding and upright to eventually trailing plant         habit.     -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely branching habit.     -   4. Dark green-colored leaves.     -   5. Freely flowering habit.     -   6. Relatively large dark burgundy-colored flowers that are held         above and beyond the foliar plane.     -   7 Relatively tolerant to Powdery Mildew (Podosphaera xanthii).

Plants of the new Verbena can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Verbena differ primarily from plants of ‘Lan Peachy’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Verbena have larger flowers than plants of         the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Verbena and the female parent selection         differ in flower color as plants of the female parent selection         have lighter burgundy-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Verbena can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Verbena differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Verbena are more compact than plants of the         male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Verbena are more freely flowering than         plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Verbena can be compared to plants of the Verbena hybrida ‘Usbenal5’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,851. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Verbena differ primarily from plants of ‘Usbenal5’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Verbena are more compact than plants of         ‘Usbenal5’.     -   2. Plants of the new Verbena have narrower leaves than plants of         ‘Usbenal5’.     -   3. Plants of the new Verbena and ‘Usbenal5’ differ in flower         color as flowers of ‘Usbenal5’ are purple in color.

Plants of the new Verbena can be compared to plants of the Verbena hybrida ‘KLEVP08383’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,056. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Verbena differ primarily from plants of ‘KLEVP083 83’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Verbena are more freely branching than         plants of ‘KLEVP08383’.     -   2. Plants of the new Verbena are more freely flowering than         plants of ‘KLEVP08383’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Verbena plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the actual colors of the new Verbena plant.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘RIKAV38602’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the sheet is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘RIKAV38602’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the spring in 10-cm containers in an acrylic-covered greenhouse in Carleton, Mich. and under cultural practices typical of commercial Verbena production. During the production of the plants, day and night temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 30° C. and light levels averaged 1,500 foot-candles. Plants were seven weeks old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Verbena hybrida ‘RIKAV38602’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary seedling selection of             Verbena hybrida identified as code number 12V258-05, not             patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary seedling selection of             Verbena hybrida identified as code number 08V665-02, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Vegetative terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About three days at             temperatures ranging from about 16° C. to 29° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About four days at             temperatures ranging from about 16° C. to 21° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted plant, summer.—About 15 days at             temperatures ranging from about 16° C. to 29° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted plant, winter.—About 20 days at             temperatures ranging from about 16° C. to 21° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; white in             color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Compact, mounding and upright to             eventually trailing plant habit; freely branching habit with             about eight to nine primary lateral branches developing per             plant each secondary branches potentially developing at             every node; pinching is not required; dense and bushy plant             habit; moderately vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 9.5             cm.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 15             cm.         -   Plant diameter (spread).—About 27 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—Variable, about 20 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 2 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 1.5 cm.         -   Orientation.—Initially upright then outwardly spreading to             trailing.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Texture and luster.—Pubescent; dull.         -   Color, developing.—Close to 144A.         -   Color, developed.—Close to 146B. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.         -   Length.—About 2.8 cm.         -   Width.—About 2 cm.         -   Shape.—Ovate to somewhat deltoid.         -   Apex.—Broadly acute.         -   Base.—Truncate.         -   Margin.—Crenate.         -   Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent,             coarse, hirsute; dull.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; reticulate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 147A.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 147A; venation,             close to 147A. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close             to 147B; venation, close to 146D.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 8 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Strength: Moderately strong. Texture and luster, upper and             lower surfaces: Pubescent, minute; dull. Color, upper and             lower surfaces: Close to 146D. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Sessile salverform flowers             arranged in upright hemispherical terminal racemes; flowers             face upward or outwardly; freely flowering habit with about             34 flowers developing per inflorescence and typically more             than 1,000 flowers developing per plant.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants flower continuously from             spring until frost in Michigan; early flowering habit,             plants begin flowering about six weeks after planting.         -   Flower longevity.—Flowers last about five days on the plant;             flowers not persistent.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Inflorescence height.—About 4.5 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 5 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1.8 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.             Shape: Elongated oblong. Texture and luster: Pubescent,             minute; matte. Color: Close to 187B.         -   Flower diameter.—About 1.6 cm by 1.7 cm.         -   Flower depth (height).—About 2.2 cm.         -   Throat diameter.—About 1 mm.         -   Tube length.—About 1.8 cm.         -   Tube diameter, distally.—About 1 mm.         -   Corolla.—Arrangement: Single whorl of five fused petals             fused towards the base into a narrow tube. Petal lobe             length: About 1 cm. Petal lobe width: About 8 mm. Petal lobe             shape: Roughly cordate. Petal lobe apex: Emarginate. Petal             margin: Entire. Petal texture and luster, upper surface:             Smooth, glabrous; velvety, dull. Petal texture and luster,             lower surface: Pubescent, minute; dull. Throat texture:             Pubescent; slightly glossy. Tube texture: Pubescent, minute;             slightly glossy. Color: Petal, when opening, upper surface:             Close to 187A. Petal, when opening, lower surface: Close to             N186D. Petal, fully opened, upper surface: Close to 187A;             venation, close to 187A; color does not change with             development. Petal, fully opened, lower surface: Close to             N186D; distally, narrow band, close to 84D; venation, close             to 187B; color does not change with development. Throat:             Close to N87D; venation, close to N87D. Tube: Close to more             grey than N87D; towards the base, close to 195D; venation,             close to 195D.         -   Calyx.—Arrangement: Single whorl of five fused sepals fused             towards the base into a slender tube. Sepal length: About             9 mm. Sepal width: Less than 1 mm. Sepal shape: Narrowly             lanceolate. Sepal apex: Acute. Sepal margin: Entire. Sepal             texture and luster, inner surface: Smooth, glabrous;             slightly glossy. Sepal texture and luster, outer surface:             Pubescent; minute; dull. Sepal color, upper surface: Close             to 146B. Sepal color, lower surface: Close to 146A to 146B.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 3.4 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Strength: Strong. Aspect: Upright. Texture and luster:             Pubescent; dull. Color: Close to 146A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity and arrangement: Four             per flower, filaments partially adnate to corolla tube.             Filament length: About 1.3 cm. Filament color: Close to             145D. Anther shape: Round. Anther size: About 1 mm by 1 mm.             Anther color: Close to 150C. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen             color: Close to 8C. Pistils: Quantity: One per flower.             Pistil length: About 2 cm. Stigma shape: Bi-parted. Stigma             diameter: Less than 1 mm. Stigma color: Close to 144A. Style             length: About 1.7 cm. Style color: Close to 145D. Ovary             color: Close to 144B. Fruits and seeds: Fruit and seed             development have not been observed on plants of the new             Verbena. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Verbena have been observed     to tolerate temperatures from about 7° C. to about 40° C. and are     suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 8 to 11. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Verbena have been     observed to be relatively tolerant to Powdery Mildew (Podosphaera     xanthii). Plants of the new Verbena have not been observed to be     resistant to pests and other pathogens common to Verbena plants. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Verbena plant named ‘RIKAV38602’ as illustrated and described. 